DETROIT — Dealers with a customer who is an extreme Chevrolet Corvette enthusiast and knows how to get around a garage might have the perfect buying option.

For purchasers who want to be personally involved in creating their Corvette, Chevrolet's new Corvette Engine Build Experience can allow them to enjoy what the program name indicates.

General Motors believes this program is the world's most hands-on super car program. Customers who order a 2011 Corvette Z06 or ZR1 can choose an option to help assemble their vehicle's LS7 or LS9 engines at GM's Performance Build Center in Wixom, Mich.

When a customer selects the PBC option and the dealer submits the order to Chevrolet, a special concierge contacts the customer to verify participation and help coordinate arrangements. The automaker mentioned that while travel arrangements to and from metro Detroit are the customer's responsibility, the Chevrolet concierge helps schedule main project elements. That assistance includes coordination with the customer's activities at the Performance Build Center, support with booking local lodging and meals and arrangement for local transportation.

At the PBC, Chevrolet stressed the customer doesn't merely view the engine's assembly — the person builds it under the supervision of and support from skilled technicians. When the engine is assembled, a personalized nameplate can be added to the engine next to the builder's name. It is then sent to the Corvette assembly plant for installation in the customer's car.

Should the customer want to continue the experience, the individual can watch the vehicle being assembled at the Corvette assembly plant in Bowling Green, Ky.

"Corvette owners are some of the most passionate — and most involved — enthusiasts in the industry," declared Jim Campbell, the U.S. vice president of Chevrolet marketing.

"The Corvette Engine Build Experience offers customers an unprecedented opportunity to participate, hands on, in creating the car," Campbell continued.

GM pointed out the Corvette Engine Build Experience is possible because of the hand-assembly processes used at the 100,000-square-foot PBC. The company indicated technicians hand-build the Corvette Z06's LS7 7.0L engine, the Corvette ZR1's 6.2L supercharged LS9 engine and a variation of the Corvette Grand Sport's LS3 6.2L engine.

The manufacturer believes the PBC incorporates the best practices of low-volume niche manufacturers and the established quality and manufacturing standards at GM to ensure the highest-quality specialized engines.

Like all engines assembled at the PBC, officials said Engine Build Experience engines are covered by Chevrolet's five year / 100,000-mile transferable powertrain warranty.

The Engine Build Experience is an option with a suggested retail price of $5,800.

GM reiterated its other program geared toward Corvette enthusiasts, including:

—Corvette plant tour where customers can follow their vehicle down the Bowling Green assembly line.

—Corvette Museum delivery where customers take delivery of their new Corvette at the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green

—Corvette ZR1 Driving School, which offers complimentary attendance at either Bob Bondurant's Corvette Driving School in Arizona, or Ron Fellows' Corvette Performance Driving School near Las Vegas.

"Simply put, no other sports car manufacturer can match the level of personal customer involvement that Corvette offers," Campbell asserted.

"The Corvette Engine Build Experience takes this personal involvement to an unprecedented level," he added.

Another top GM executive who is a Corvette owner himself had high praise for the Engine Build Experience

"In a way, this is a dream program for a Corvette customer. I would have jumped at the chance to build the 427 in my '67 'Vette, and that didn't have half of what goes into one of these modern precision engines," declared Tom Stephens, GM's vice chairman of global product operations.

"Today's LS7 and LS9 Corvette engines are pinnacle achievements in engineering, and to personally involve our customers in their final creation shows the depth of Chevrolet's commitment to make lasting connections with the customer," Stephens added.

For more information about all of the model's programs, visit facebook.com/corvette.